i am the OP of this thread (lewis_slc). I haven't posted in a long time but have been keeping up on everyone's progress on their own goals. Nice job! I have learned a lot about the importance of failure while traveling the road toward success this season. Altho my 31 redpoints before i turn 31 project's deadline has come and gone,(and i didn't even come close) i am still plugging away at it. Today i redpointed my 4th 5.12 of this climbing season, Condor, 5.12a. Keep at it all. This thread & everyone who has participated in it has been a breath of fresh air compared to what normally goes down on this site. Keep the updates coming!

i am the OP of this thread (lewis_slc)....Altho my 31 redpoints before i turn 31 project's deadline has come and gone,(and i didn't even come close) i am still plugging away at it. Today i redpointed my 4th 5.12 of this climbing season, Condor, 5.12a.

So what, in your experience, were the biggest factors that prevented your from reaching the goal?

Today i redpointed my 4th 5.12 of this climbing season, Condor, 5.12a. Keep at it all. This thread & everyone who has participated in it has been a breath of fresh air compared to what normally goes down on this site. Keep the updates coming!

i am the OP of this thread (lewis_slc). I haven't posted in a long time but have been keeping up on everyone's progress on their own goals. Nice job! I have learned a lot about the importance of failure while traveling the road toward success this season. Altho my 31 redpoints before i turn 31 project's deadline has come and gone,(and i didn't even come close) i am still plugging away at it. Today i redpointed my 4th 5.12 of this climbing season, Condor, 5.12a. Keep at it all. This thread & everyone who has participated in it has been a breath of fresh air compared to what normally goes down on this site. Keep the updates coming!

Hi Lewis - I read your blog and it has been interesting to hear about your journey this year - thanks for sharing your story. You are a good writer! You inspired me to take on my own version of the challenge this year. I may or may not be successful (still have a couple of months), but just pushing myself with a set goal like that has been great for my confidence and getting out of my comfort zone. Anyway - just wanted to say thanks for the inspiration, and keep writing!

"Hi Lewis - I read your blog and it has been interesting to hear about your journey this year - thanks for sharing your story. You are a good writer! You inspired me to take on my own version of the challenge this year. I may or may not be successful (still have a couple of months), but just pushing myself with a set goal like that has been great for my confidence and getting out of my comfort zone. Anyway - just wanted to say thanks for the inspiration, and keep writing!"

Thanks a lot. I truely appreciate it. Good luck on your goal. Every night before you go to bed, ask yourself, 'what did i fail at today?' & be proud everytime your fail - it means you tried.

Looking good, Brendan! I went through a long stint of no sending (wedding season), but I had a good weekend in Penitente Canyon including my first 5.12 onsight and I'm currently at 26/31. Almost there, and honestly I can't wait for this goal to be finished!

My goal is/was this: To have 28 "hard onsights" in my 28th year. I set the parameters at 11c sport or harder, and 10c trad or harder. If it's multi-pitch, I have to onsight all the pithces, and must lead the crux pitches.

Well yesterday was my birthday. I sort of lost track of it all but I am pretty sure that I didn't make it to 28. Probably 22 or so. But mny of those flashes/onsights were at an area that I had not climbed at before and that is a big part of climbing for me - exploring different areas.

With a lot of my 2013 trips being to alpineish trad areas, I'm not sure what kind of goals to set.

Nice job, Brendan, on getting Burning! such a cool looking line. 18/20! Damn, man...almost there! Nice job to everyone getting their goal, or atleast trying. Ha, i was only 2/31, but as soon as my dead line came & went, i was able to calm down, & send 6 more 12's, including my first .12b. keep at it, people!

Just turned 28, I've had a few .11b onsights and conquered some 11c and d without redpointing, looking to train hard and crush come spring '13. My plan is Pyle Surgery 12a (BCC, S-curves, the pyle) as my first 12. Totally stoked, I love the OP's idea. Maybe once I get that first 12 I'll stick to hard stuff more often. I don't know anyone right now that climbs 12, looks like it is time to make some more friends over at the gym in Holladay, UT. Hit me up if you are in SLC and are training hard this off season and need a catch.

Didn't think the goal was very helpful. In the long run, I would have been better off focusing on climbs (harder or easier) that would make me a better climber, not get me another checkmark on the list.

Had a goal to climb 100 days a year at one time. Maybe I'll make my next goal climbing 200 days a year.

I promised a review after I finished so here it is. This was the first real goal I have set in climbing. By 'real' I mean it conforms to the rules laid out in Eric Hörst's article here.Goals like this are a crucial step towards meaningful improvement over a climbing career. Each one of my climbing sessions suddenly gained purpose. Was I moving forward towards my goal? By defining my goal, defining my current level, and making a roadmap to close that gap, I had a plan every time I went to the gym. It also changed my attitude at the crag. I had a limited number of days so every one had to count. I could not leave a route for another time, it needed to get done, today. This limitation forced focus and perseverance, qualities that I didn't have in the past. I am glad Lewis provided the spark and hope the link above helps others set good goals for the new year.